Recognizing and treating autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease causes chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Mechanisms include cyst production, multiplication, and enlargement leading to increased kidney size, and ultimately kidney failure. Although there is no known cure, NPs are uniquely positioned to help patients manage their symptoms and delay onset of kidney failure and need for dialysis.

Implementing Evidence-Based Vitamin D Protocol in the Dialysis Clinic: An Educational Approach.

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and even more pronounced in patients with kidney failure who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. This project was a nurse practitioner-led quality improvement project conducted in an outpatient hemodialysis unit that focused on determining if educating providers and hemodialysis unit clinical staff on vitamin D guidelines increased the awareness and monitoring of patients on hemodialysis. The number of patients screened for vitamin D levels increased from 29% to 100%, and 70% of patients tested were deficient in vitamin D.